'DP' inaugurates 113th board amid speeches, much revelry

Following a brief keynote speech by 'Fortune' magazine's Jeff Birnbaum, University President Judith Rodin claimed to be the paper's biggest fan. and Randi Rothberg Donned in tuxedos and evening gowns, The Daily Pennsylvanian staffers had a chance to show off their exploits -- and drinking talents -- at Saturday night's annual banquet. "I hate these mingling things," said outgoing Associate Business Manager Rich Acosta, a Wharton senior. After an hour of talking and drinking in the Chinese Rotunda of the University Museum, party-goers gathered for dinner among the mummies in the Upper Egyptian Gallery. Keynote speaker Jeffrey Birnbaum, Washington bureau chief of Fortune magazine, interrupted the first course with his rather short speech in order to catch a train for a morning TV appearance. After dinner, outgoing Executive Editor Adam Mark explained that he escaped the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to attend the evening's festivities. Mark was ill with food poisoning and checked into the hospital Friday -- prompting Vice President for Community, Government and Public Relations Carol Scheman to ask if Mark eats at food trucks. "I had to promise [the nurses] a positive puff piece in exchange for an I.V.," said Mark, a College senior. "You wouldn't believe this, but I am the DP's biggest fan," University President Judith Rodin began her own welcoming speech. Rodin then mocked her reputation as an absentee president. "The truth is I actually am invisible," she said. She joked further, claiming to have spent much time recently in Argentina, playing the lead in the movie Evita. "I'm telling you, she's a fox," a DP board member was overheard saying. "When she was in college, she must have been something." Incoming Executive Editor Eric Goldstein -- a Wharton junior whom Mark called a "scholar" and a "gentleman" -- began the awards ceremony. The paper's Editor of the Year was outgoing Design Editor and College senior Jeff Wieland. College junior Andrea Ahles won Reporter of the Year, and College senior Michael Kopelman was named Business Manager of the Year for his work with the Marketing Department. Columnist Mike Nadel, a 1996 College graduate, won the DP Alumni Association's writing award. The alumni's photography award went to outgoing Photo Editor Laura Dwyer, a College senior. The ensuing party -- held in the Penn Tower Hotel -- provided much entertainment. In the most horrific sight on campus this year -- even after a September crime wave -- almost the entire DP staff took part in one massive, clumsy "Macarena" early in the evening. Incoming City News Editor Yochi Dreazen made a foolhardy attempt to join the line dancing before settling down to a Bud. "This'll ruin my girlish figure," the College sophomore said. Meanwhile, after imbibing quite heavily, Dreazen's counterpart for campus news, College sophomore Marisa Katz, was seen lingering on the dance floor with Sports Editor and College junior Scott Miller. "The bartender on the right made the drinks much stronger, but he didn't stir them," said incoming 34th Street Editor Doree Shafrir, a College sophomore who is not 21 years old. "So if you forgot to stir it, you took a sip and you were like 'AAAAAAAAGH'!" Street Music Editor Ben Dietz said his award of Best Dressed Street Editor left him "all warm and fuzzy inside, and dapper at the same time." But the walking fashion plate also commented that College junior and incoming DP Managing Editor Mike Madden's red, silver and black cummerbund and bowtie set was one of the coolest articles of clothing at the banquet. But the true spectacle of the night was the dancing of staff photographer and College freshman Adriana Lopez, which left everyone in awe. Former columnist Tom Nessinger, a second-year Communications graduate student, was overheard referring to Lopez as "the wild beast."